Allowey Ahmed and his Muslim neighbors in Sheepshead Bay have, for many years, felt the need for a mosque close to home.

Currently, the area's growing Muslim community must travel miles away to worship in mosques in Bensonhurst and Coney Island.

"We dream of having a place of worship and a center for youth activities within walking distance," said Ahmed, who is Yemeni American and has lived in Brooklyn for over 40 years.

Partnering with the national U.S. non-profit Muslim American Society (MAS), Ahmed bought a vacant lot at 2821 Voorhies Ave. – a quiet, residential street of detached houses.

In July 2009, he submitted plans to the N.Y.C. Department of Buildings (DoB) for a four-story building and roof extension for a minaret.

Fast forward six months: Ahmed's first plans were rejected by the DoB; he has submitted new plans and says he can build as of right now without the minaret.

But he is meeting with far fiercer opposition from some Sheepshead residents – some of whom appear to be steeped in anti-Muslim stereotypes.

At recent civic meetings and in letters to the City Council, opponents of the mosque say it comes with three big problems: noise, traffic – and security.

According to neighborhood blog, Sheepshead Bites, comments at a recent Plumb Beach Civic Association (PBCA) meeting on the mosque went like this:

"The various people that will be drawn to this location will not be acceptable," said Joan Bonfonte, a local real estate agent. "When you're going against people who are looking to blow us apart, I don't like it."

Victor Benari, another neighbor, reportedly said: "My son says he is afraid of them. I'm afraid of them too, because they look like this" – pantomiming a burka's veil.

Ahmed and his colleagues say they are shocked at their neighbors' responses.

"We didn't expect this mentality," said Ibrahim Anse, the project's architect.

"I have lived here [Sheepshead Bay] since 1997 and have never seen any problems," said Ahmed. "There are many religions and races here, it's a harmonious place."

Soon after the Plumb Beach Civic Association meeting, flyers were anonymously distributed in the neighborhood, accusing the organization behind the project of being "anti-Semitic" and connected to "terrorist organizations," such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

The flyer referenced the Jerusalem Post and the Anti-Defamation League, among other sources. The Muslim American Society has repeatedly denied any such accusations.

Ahmed said the tale of a Muslim organization being accused of terrorist ties is becoming all too familiar.

"It seems that the burden of proof falls on us [Muslims] nowadays," he said.

Community Board 15 (CB15) Chair Theresa Scavo and Sheepshead Bay Councilman Lew Fidler have both publicly defended the project against hysterical reactions.

"To make a decision that because this is a mosque and for no other reason that this will be a haven for hate or terror is over the top," Fidler told the Bay Ridge Courier.

Ahmed is grateful for the civic leaders' even-handed approach. "They courageously stood up for our right to build a religious institution," he said.

(The New York Post, however, and some other local Courier Life newspapers stoked the controversy in a column by Shavana Abruzzo, titled "No new mosque in 'Brooklynstan'," listing mosques worldwide which have been used for "terrorist activities".)

The plans were debated at a heated CB15 public hearing on January 26.

Muslim community leader Mohammed Razvi told the 300-strong audience that Brooklyn is a worldwide example of racial harmony and the mosque shouldn't change that.

Gregory K., a Sheepshead Bay resident, started by telling the audience that he is not a racist, and went on to talk of the noise problems he fears the mosque would bring.

"I am not a bigot or a racist," he told Aramica days after the meeting. "I grew up in Azerbaijan, which is a Muslim country. I never had any problems with people over there. I was there for 33 years; I have Muslim friends and relatives."

The mosque's planners told the attendees that they won't broadcast the call to prayer and the mosque will be attended mostly by locals on foot so parking is a non-issue.

"We won't stand for anything that will bother our neighbors," said Ahmed.

Ahmed said he plans to meet with the neighbors more as the project moves forward. "We want to make ourselves understood in a positive way," he said.

He and his colleague are determined to set up the vibrant community center they envision.

"This is our cause and we believe in it," said Anse. "We believe in the law and in this great nation."